Sponge mop and wringer



p 13, 1966 R. c. TILLINGHAST 3,271,804

SPONGE MOP AND WRINGER Filed April 26, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 'IIIIIIIIII A u! L /fi INVENTOR BY g 2 J0 @ATTQRNEY Sept. 13, 1966 R. c. TlLLlNGHAST 3,271,804

SPONGE MOP AND WRINGER Filed April 26, 1965 2 Sheets-SheetZ United States Patent 3,271,804 SPONGE MOP AND WRINGER Raymond C. Tillinghast, Memphis, Tenn., asslgnor to Gem, Incorporated, Byhalia, Miss., a corporation of Mississippi Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,646 2 Claims. (U. 15119) The present invention relates to a sponge mop, and more particularly to a self-wringing sponge mop that includes a highly efficient means for squeezing moisture from the mop.

An object of the present invention is to provide a self-wringing sponge mop that is constructed so that the mop can be readily extended under or adjacent various articles of furniture without marring or scratching the furniture, and wherein the present invention is easy to operate and wherein there is provided a unique squeezing action which permits remote control or use of the mop.

Another object is to provide a self-wringing sponge mop which permits the sponges to be squeezed without getting the hands wet and wherein there is provided a camming action which insures that a considerable amount of pressure or force will be applied to the sponges to effectively wring the sponges and remove water therefrom.

Yet another object is to provide a sponge mop and wringer which includes a manually movable slide that is mounted for movement along a shaft or handle and wherein as the slide is manually moved or actuated, the sponge plates can be caused to assume either a mopping position or a squeezing position.

Still another object is to provide a self-wringing sponge mop that can be used efficiently and conveniently, and further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character described that is economical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the most economical use of materials and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will vbecome apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the sponge mop of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view showing the parts in mopping position.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view showing the parts in squeezing position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 I of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 7 but showing the parts in a different position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the self-wringing sponge mop of the present invention which comprises an anchor plate 21 and a squeeze plate 22, and the plates 21 and 22 are hingedly connected together as at 23. The hinge construction 23 may include interfitting curved portions 24 which are integral with the plates 21 and 22, and a hinge pin 25 is adapted to extend through the interfitting portions 24. The numeral 26 indicates a spring member which is mounted on the pin 25, and the spring member 26 serves to normally urge or bias the plates 21 and 22 into a coplanar mopping position as shown in FIGURE 1. The plates 21 3,271,804 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 and 22 are adapted to be provided with slots or openings 27. Sponges 28 and 29 are connected to the plates 21 and 22 in any suitable manner, and for example these sponges may be secured to backing members 30 which are maintained connected to the plates by securing elements such as the screws 31, FIGURES 1 and 4. The sponges 28 and 29 are adapted to be of the replaceable type.

There is further provided a connector 32 which has a portion 33 secured to or formed integral with the anchor plate 21, and the connector 32 includes a hollow end portion 34 which receives an end of a shaft or handle 35, and the shaft 35 is affixed to the end portion 34 of the connector 32 in any suitable manner.

As shown in FIGURE 7, there is provided a manually movable slide or collar which is indicated generally by the numeral 36, and the slide 36 has a hollow interior as indicated by the numeral 37, and there is also provided an enlarged inner flaring recessed portion 38.

The numeral 39 indicates a pin which extends through an end portion of the slide 36, FIGURE 7, and the slide 36 is also provided with a slotted portion 40, FIGURE 6. The numeral 41 indicates a lever or bar which includes a main body portion 42 that has one end terminating in a rounded shouldered end portion 43 for a purpose to be later described, and the end of the lever 41 is provided with a slot or notch 44 for selective engagement with the pin 39, as for example as shown in FIGURE 7. The lever 41 is provided with an inclined cam surface 45, and the lever 41 is shaped to include an end portion 46 that is arranged angularly with respect to the main body portion 42.

The numeral 47 indicates a bracket which has a portion 48 secured to or formed integral with the plate 22, and the bracket 47 includes a main section 49 as well as an end portion 50 of reduced size, and the end section 50 is bifurcated, and the end portion 46 of the lever 41 is pivotally connected to the bifurcated section 50 by means of a pivot pin 51. The bracket 47 and connector 32 are provided with elongated strengthening ribs 52 and 53 respectively. The connector 32 is adapted to be recessed or cut away as at 54 so as to provide suflicient clearance for the adjacent portions of the bracket 47 as, for example, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The shaft 35 is provided with an indented portion or recess 55 for selectively receiving the shoulder portion 43 of the lever 41.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a self-wringing sponge mop, and with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, when the mop 20 of the present invention is to be used for mopping a floor or other surface, the parts are arranged as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. That is, in mopping position, the pair of sponges 28 and 29 lie in the same plane and the handle 35 and slide 36 can be readily manually gripped to move the mop along the surface being washed or cleaned. It is to be noted that the connector 32 has a somewhat arcuate or curved configuration and this construction permits the mop to conveniently reach under articles of furniture or the like so that the scrubbing or cleaning can be accomplished in hard to reach areas and in addition this construction helps insure that there will be less likelihood of the rnop bumping into such articles of furniture and marring or scratching the same. The spring member 26 is arranged on the hinge 23 so that the spring 26 has a tendency to exert pressure on the parts to maintain the parts in sponging or mopping position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Also, with the parts in mopping position, the slide 36 is in elevated position on the shaft 35.

When it is desired to squeeze the water or moisture from the sponges 28 and 29, it is only necessary to manually grip and move the slide 36 downwardly along the shaft 35 so that, for example, the parts will move from the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 to the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 3 whereby the sponges 28 and 29 will be brought together to bring about the desired squeezing action thereon.

It is to be noted that when the parts are in mopping position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the pin 39 is seated in the slot 44 on the end of the lever 41, as shown in FIG- URE 7. However, when the user desires to squeeze the water from the sponges, as previously stated, the slide 36 is manually moved downwardly along the shaft 35 so that the parts will initially move from a position such as that shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown by broken lines in FIGURE 3 and eventually the parts Will assume the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 3. As the slide 36 moves, the pin 39 becomes disengaged from the slot 44, and the pin 39 engages the inclined cam surface 45 of the lever 41 so that a carnming action results whereby a considerably increased pressure is applied to the lever 41, and this pressure in turn is transmitted through the bracket 47 to the plate 22 so that the pair of plates 21 and 22 will assume a position such as that shown in FIG- URE 3 whereby the sponges 28 and 29 will have the water squeezed therefrom in the desired manner. When the slide 36 reaches the end of its travel at the proper position, the rounded shoulder 43 of the lever 41 will be received in the indented recess portion 55 on the shaft 35 so that a locking means is provided for temporarily holding the parts in squeezing position as shown in FIGURE 3. To cause the parts to return from squeezing position to mopping position, it is only necessary to apply a slight manual pressure to the slide 36 so that the shoulder 43 can move out of the recess 55, and the parts will be easily returned from the squeezing position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 3 to the mopping position as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 for example. The construction of the lever 41 in conjunction with the other parts such as the pivot pin 51 serve to insure that the parts will move into and out of their proper position as the mop is actuated as previously stated.

It is to be understood that the various parts or elements can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes as required or desired.

The mop of the present invention is constructed so that it can reach areas or surfaces that are usually inaccessible or difficult to reach. The shaft or handle 35 can be made in different lengths as desired or required. The present invention is easy to operate, and certain of the parts may be made of a suitable plastic material which has incorporated therein a built-in lubricant to facilitate movement of the various parts. The primary aspect or feature of the present invention is the unique squeezing action and it will be noted that there is provided a remote action mop wherein the squeezing of the water can be accomplished without getting the hands we-t. In addition, the present invention is constructed so that the camming action between the pin 39 and the inclined cam surface 45 results in a greater amount of force being applied to the sponges to bring about the squeezing action than is available when only manual pressure is used to squeeze such sponges.

With the parts in the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 7, for example, the rounded shoulder 43 bears against the shaft 35. When the parts move from the position shown in FIGURE 7 to the position shown in FIGURE 8 for example, the pin 39 is out of engagement with the slot 44, and the pin 39 engages the inclined cam surface 45, and the rounded shoulder 43 is received in the indented portion 55 and as the slide or collar 36 is moved further,

the sponges 28 and 29 will be tightly squeezed together to squeeze the water therefrom in the desired manner. The present invention is constructed with sufficient resiliency so as to permit the parts to move from a position such as that shown in FIG. 7 to a position such as that shown in FIG. 8 and vice versa. Thus the present invention provides an increased amount of pressure for squeezing out the water.

Instead of using two separate sponges 28 and 29, a single sponge may .be used. The mop is adapted to accommodate refill sponge units as, for example, when the sponges become worn and need replacement. The construction is such that a large cleaning surface or sponge area is provided. As previously stated, the primary aspect or features of the present invention reside in the unique. squeezing action including the linkage which permits this to take place in the desired manner.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A remote action squeeze mop comprising an anchor plate and a squeeze plate hingedly connected, a spring member for urging said plates into a coplanar position, sponges connected to said plates, a connector aflixed to said anchor plate and said connector having a curved formation and including a hollow end portion, a shaft having one end affixed in said hollow end portion, a manually operable slide slidably mounted on said shaft, said slide having a hollow interior that terminates in an enlarged inner flaring recess portion, a pin connected to said slide adjacent said recess portion, a lever having a rounded shouldered end portion arranged within said slide, there being a slot in said shouldered end portion for selective engagement with said pin, said lever further including a main body portion having an inclined cam surface for engagement by said pin, said lever further including an end ,portion arranged angularly with respect to said main body portion, a bracket affixed to said squeeze plate, and said bracket having a generally curved shape and including a main section and an end section that is of reduced size and that is bifurcated, said bifurcated section having the end portion of said lever pivotally connected thereto, there being a recess in said shaft defining an indented portion for selectively receiving said shouldered portion.

2. In a mop, a pair of plates hingedly connected together, a spring member operatively connected to said plates for urging said plates into coplanar position, sponges :atfixed to said plates, a curved connector secured to one of said plates, a shaft connected to said connector, a bracket connected to the other of said plates, a lever pivotally connected to said bracket and said lever having an inclined cam surface, a manually movable slide slidably mounted on said shaft, a pin connected to said slide for selective engagement with said lever cam surface, said lever having a rounded shouldered end portion, and said shaft having an indented recess portion for selectively receiving said shouldered portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,999 5/1 898 Ballam 15-116.1 2,251,384 8/1941 Thomas 15119.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 617,197 8/1935 Germany. 744,251 4/ 1956 Great Britain.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

2. IN A MOP, A PAIR OF PLATES HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER, A SPRING MEMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID PLATES FOR URGING SAID PLATES INTO COPLANAR POSITION, SPONGES AFFIXED TO SAID PLATES, A CURVED CONNECTOR SECURED TO ONE OF SAID PLATES, A SHAFT CONNECTED TO SAID CONNECTOR, A BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID PLATES, A LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BRACKET AND SAID LEVER HAVING AN INCLINED CAM SURFACE, A MANUALLY MOVABLE SLIDE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, A PIN CONNECTED TO SAID SLIDE FOR SELECTIVE 